A Massachusetts store clerk embroiled in the unique case involving a $3 million lottery ticket admitted Friday that she tried to cash in on the winning, despite knowing they belonged to someone else.
The NBC10 Boston Investigators have been closely following the case, and produced a 30-minute documentary, “$3 Million Mistake.”
Carly Nunes had a choice when she discovered the ticket had been left behind. The decision she made resulted in multiple criminal charges of larceny and fraud.
In Brockton Superior Court on Friday, Nunes admitted there was enough evidence to find her guilty of one of those felony indictments – trying to file a false claim. The three other charges against her were dismissed. A judge imposed a sentence of two years probation with the requirement of continuing substance abuse treatment.
Surveillance footage from a Lakeville Convenience Store lays out the sequence of events.
Last January, a man named Paul Little bought a lottery ticket and a bag of chips.
Nunes, the store cashier, forgot to hand Little the ticket, and he left without noticing.
Days later, video captured Nunes attempting to claim the prize at the Lottery headquarters in Dorchester. But employees there became suspicious and launched an investigation into the purchases.
Nunes was eventually indicted by a grand jury and arrested on a warrant when she skipped her arraignment.
She’s been released and has been attending court-ordered substance abuse treatment.
After a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police, Little learned he was actually the rightful winner and finally received the large check last June.
Reached by phone about the conclusion to the case, Little told NBC10 Boston that Nunes is young enough to learn from the mistake and pick a different direction in life.
He added that he wishes her the best and prays good things come her way.
